The Scourge Of Racism
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The call to spiritual unity the Lord led me to make in a recent post was to and is only possible among His followers genuinely repentant and revived by the Holy Spirit in the paradigm shift created by His Coronavirus judgment.1 This should not be shocking since authentic, Spirit-filled believers are strictly who the apostle Paul is speaking to when he issues his unity call to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 4:1-6). It is also important to understand now, as the Lord’s Coronavirus judgment has ushered in another clear reality of the paradigm shift spawned with it: the launch of His days of separation not completed until after His Kingdom reign in this present earth and mortal age end.
The love of God in us and for each other that fosters unity is Christ’s standing “commandment” and instruction of His apostles to all disciples that would make up His Body, the Church (John 13:34-35, 15:9-12; Romans 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8; 1 John 4:8-11, NKJV). The Lord Jesus is direct in declaring real love for Him is displayed in obedience to His commandments--agreed with or not; disobedience from Adam being why He had to come (John 1:29, 14:15, 19-24)! Likewise, the apostle John pulls no punches about the Lord’s standing commandment that His disciples love each other; describing those that refuse as still “in darkness,” (1 John 2:7-11, NKJV).
John goes on to mark the presence or absence of love for one’s Christian brother and practiced “righteousness” as a point of “manifest” separation between the “children of God and the children of the devil.” This separation was first made in the world by wicked Cain when he murdered his righteous brother, Abel, and continues to this hour. John further describes a professed Christian that does not love, but hates his brother as abiding “in death” and being “a murderer” (Genesis 4:3-8; 1 John 3:10-15, NKJV). He also calls the professed Christian man who claims to love God, but “hates his brother,” “a liar” (1 John 4:20-21, NKJV).2
There is then, a very real separation between the children of God and those of Satan in the world and within professing Christianity! We understand why this is so in the world since Christians are called out of it to follow Christ (John 15:19; Galatians 6:14; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). While we remain in the world physically, we are no longer of it spiritually, morally or ethically (John 17:9-19; Romans 12:1-2)! Indeed, this world--enemy territory--is hostile to Christ, His Kingdom and us in Him (Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 5:18-20). We supposedly understand this too, and the fact we are destined by God to be separated from the wicked of this world forever (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50)!
However, why until now, has God allowed His children and the children of Satan as religionist impostors, rebels and apostates to co-exist in the churches or has He? From the beginning Christ and His apostles warned and taught about separating out and barring from among the churches those that would not stop sinning against a brother or obey right (sound) doctrine (Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 16:17-20; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; Titus 3:9-10; 2 John 7-11). And while it is true “certain men crept in unnoticed,” the apostles with the Lord fatally judged even some sinning believers as an example to all (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, 11:23-32; Jude 4, NKJV).
Historically after the apostles, the church fathers stood against many false teachers through the 4th century using excommunication and public repudiation. At the end of the 4th until the 19th century Christianity the religion of men manifested prominently among Roman Catholics with others and Protestants that followed, wrongly and wickedly took it into their own hands to put to death those that were heretics in their eyes to include true saints and prophets of God sent to call them to repentance (Revelation 17:1-6)!3 Today though, like the church at Corinth fearfully slow to deal with a man in sexual immorality so, many churches all manner of sin that sanction it too (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). They do this to fill empty seats, give support to and serve their manmade religious purposes.
Church discipline of any kind in this 21st century epoch of tolerance is virtually non-existent in all but the most conservative (not necessarily biblically so) of churches. The result is much carnality, corruption, wickedness, turmoil, acrimony and falsehood from false prophets, brethren, teachers and churches (Matthew 24:11; 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 13; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Revelation 18:1-3) influenced by unchecked demonic deceit as foretold (1 Timothy 4:1-5). Now, the Lord during His Coronavirus judgment has served notice to all professed Christians emptied out of their buildings that He has come to the end of His forbearance with the status quo. With judgment, His days of separation are underway within professing Christianity; the Lord, separating out His faithful from the wicked!
1 See the April 26, 2020 post, There Is Only One..., under the category, Instruction.
2 Here is where the glaring inconsistency of being a professed Christian and racially bigoted is so striking! John calls such a person what he or she really is since God
who is love and has commanded Christians to love one another is not at all behind ethnic or racial prejudice. So, you cannot be both a Christian and a bigot! This
means the evident hardened, institutionalized racial bigotry extant in professing American Christianity is not ordained of God or His Word, but a counterfeit Christianity
of manmade invention. See my most recent February 2, 2020 post on racism, Ethnically Diverse Mankind Is Of God and on February 3, 2019, Christianity In Black
And White both under the category, Black History.
3 Read the Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica for articles on Christian heresy for more details.
That the Lord distinguishes among those professing to know Him is first seen again in the case of the two brothers, Cain and Abel. Both men were most likely taught by their father, Adam, about the kind of sacrifice involving the shedding of blood because of sin that pleased God (Genesis 3:21; Hebrews 9:22). Both men clearly had dealings with God. But only Abel set his heart to make the sacrifice that pleased Him. Cain did as Israel would later and many professed Christians do today: offer God what they want or deem sufficient and expect acceptance (Malachi 1:6-14). God was not pleased with Cain’s offering, told him so and Cain became so angry, he murdered his brother.
God punished Cain by separating him from Himself and his father’s house to become a “fugitive and a vagabond.” Though Cain and his descendants did great things, none of them called "on the name of the Lord” as did Enosh, grandson of Adam, and the godly line of men after him (Genesis 4:9-26, NKJV). These men are the faithful saints of old such as Enoch, who is one of only two men to date God separated out and took alive from the world, Noah, who God separated out with his family during the flood of His wrath that destroyed the rest of mankind and the earth of that time and reaching down to Abram from “Ur of the Chaldeans,” (Genesis 5:21-24, 6:5-22, 11:26-32, NKJV).
God spoke to Abram who He named “Abraham” and directed him to separate out from his people to go to a land unknown to him in order to found a new people of promise descended from him (Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-21, 17:1-14, NKJV). During the days that ensued, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, separated from him and settled in the city of Sodom in the Jordan plain. God visited the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and determined to destroy them, but not before separating out Lot, the only righteous man therein and his family to save (Genesis 13, 18:16-19:29). Abraham fathered Isaac his promised son and he Esau and Jacob--God’s chosen (Genesis 21:1-7, 25:19-26; Romans 9:6-13).
After separating from his Mesopotamian kindred to whom he had fled escaping the wrath of his brother, Esau, Jacob returned to the Promised Land with twelve sons and a daughter (Genesis 35:9-29). Among his twelve sons, God chose Joseph for His purposes. He separated him out from his family through the treachery of his brothers to become a slave, but eventually second only to Pharaoh in Egypt to save and keep all alive there (Genesis 50:15-26). After 430 years God came down to deliver Israel from slavery and bring them back to the Promised Land. By His vessel, Moses, God brought plagues upon Egypt, but in separation protected Israel (Exodus 2:23-3:8, 8:20-24, 12:40-42).
On the way to the Promised Land God punished those that rebelled against Him when they refused to go in after a faithless report from 10 of 12 spies sent to spy it out. God separated out and preserved those of faith, obedience and faithfulness such as Joshua and Caleb, but allowed those 20 years old and above in that generation to die through 40 years of wilderness wandering (Numbers 13-14:38). Joshua replaced Moses and led the faithful along with the children of those that had perished in the wilderness into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1-9). From the death of Joshua and his generation through the next 1,300 years Israel would vacillate spiritually before God.
There would be brief seasons of faith, obedience and faithfulness to the Lord by the people as a whole with godly leaders then, prolonged seasons of unbelief, rebellion and unfaithfulness judged by Him as the prophets warned (Deuteronomy 31:24-29; Zechariah 1:1-6). Always, there were godly individuals of faith that God preserved and blessed during all times of His judgment as He has done, is doing and will yet do (Ezekiel 9; Daniel 1:1-16; Zechariah 13:7-9; Malachi 3:13-18). The New Testament draws from the written experiences of Israel with God and exhorts Christians to give full heed to avoid their mistakes and consequences (1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 3). Not the unbelieving disobedient will enter God’s promised rest, but the faithful obedient (Hebrews 4:1-13)!
The writer of Hebrews plainly warns the danger of remaining obstinate in the face of God’s call to repentance is becoming “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin;” that somehow God will not judge for whatever false reasons (Genesis 3:1-4; Hebrews 3:13, 6:4-8, 10:26-31; Jude 5-23, NKJV).4 Thus, Jesus Christ, “the Chief Shepherd” over the flock of God “who knows those who are His” stands in the midst of professing Christianity (2 Timothy 2:19-21; 1 Peter 5:4, NKJV). He separates out the faithful obedient to Himself through the fire of testing and persecution as judgment He allows to reveal them like those of old; many going out as martyrs as foretold (Daniel 3:1-28, 11:33-35; Acts 7:51-60, 12:1-19; Hebrews 10:35-11; 1 Peter 1:3-9, 4:15-19; Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-17, 12:7-11).5
As the Lord led me to recently write, persecution will not only reveal the faithful, but professed Christians as wicked impostors, rebels and apostates who align with the world in hatred and betrayal to persecute them, sealing their eternal doom.6 At the end of persecution in God’s final exam (Revelation 14:9-13), a faithful remnant will see and be separated out by flight with those resurrected to meet the coming Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). After His wrath, He will gather remnant Jews He as their Shepherd too, has separated out to Himself (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Revelation 7:1-8). On His throne of glory, the King will separate out nations unfit for His Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
4 Besides deceitfully wrapping themselves in an invented cloak of eternal security, many that beyond a shadow of a doubt know they defy the plain commandments and
instructions of God in His Word shamelessly attempt to remove their guilt and certain consequence for disobedience by asserting commandments and instructions
that are not eternal are no longer important to God or applicable. Every commandment and instruction of God’s Word for this present, mortal age is important to Him
and applicable until the end (Matthew 4:1-4, 5:17-20, 24:35; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:11-21:8). Read the December 4, 2016 post, Now Is The Day Of
Salvation, under the category, Call To Repent.
5 This is every aspiring strong man and great woman of God I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics who are equipped with biblical instruc-
tion to stand. Get a print copy or digital download of the book at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital
only). You can also purchase a print copy in the Strong Man Store.
6 See the two-part post beginning May 17, 2020, Persecution, Hatred And Betrayal, under the category, Bible Prophecy. Professed Christians that persecute their sup-
posed brothers in hate and betrayal fulfill the indictment of them as liars by the apostle John since authentic Christians love each other (Romans 13:8-10). Like Phar-
aoh long ago and their worldly cohorts, professed Christian hearts completely deceived and irreversibly sin hardened certify their just eternal damnation by and sepa-
ration from the Lord (Exodus 14:15-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 2:7-12).
Forty years ago today I would have been in the second of seven days the Lord commanded me with specific and detailed instructions to fast without eating or drinking in complete devotion to Him.1 I write in gratitude to glorify the Lord for my experiences with Him those seven days that are still vivid and impacted my life and ministry in profound and lasting ways. Though yet a babe needing to grow spiritually (as are many reading this I also hope to urge on), I was never to be the same again (Galatians 2:20)!2 The command to be totally given over to the Lord came at a critical period in my life and twenty-two months from the time my spiritual journey began on Easter Sunday 1977.3
After my new birth, while I still had a robust interest in living the get high, party and sexually promiscuous lifestyle I had been accustomed to, it had begun to wane in satisfaction (1 Peter 4:1-3). I was becoming more interested in the things of God; occasionally reading a now, well worn New American Standard Bible I was given and a Parachurch ministry magazine that came out of nowhere I would later learn was unbiblical. In the spring of 1978 I had been fired from a department store job for impropriety and was struggling as a student at Howard University. I was not able to focus because my life seemed meaningless and empty; I had lost all sense of purpose and was depressed.
At summer’s end I was about to lose my apartment. So, with two school buddies, I made plans to move into and split the rent at a Takoma Park, MD high-rise that October. Still struggling with school though, I withdrew from classes in late September. I was working in a record shop part-time. In near desperation for change, later in the fall I asked a woman I had met in a club to direct me to the church she attended. My irregular attendance at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in D.C. after that felt right, but I was still not at the point of total commitment to the God who was tugging at my heart. I ended the year and spent the first nine weeks of 1979 unemployed after being let go from my job.
I had enrolled in spring semester classes, but school still held no compelling interest for me and I went only sporadically. At my lowest, I attended church fairly regular now, reading my Bible more and praying for guidance and help. When I heard the voice of the Lord in my heart again for the first time since that Easter Sunday encounter, He commanded that I fast to Him for seven full days; eating no food or drinking anything. I was to totally withdraw from the world as I was living in it to include not sitting among my friends the first three days and give the Lord my complete, undivided attention in Bible study, reflection on the Word, prayer, listening to Him and my one Gospel tape.4
While I had some fear of the unknown concerning fasting as He commanded, the Lord’s accompanying instructions were reassuring and very importantly, faith building as was my entire experience. For I now understand with all else He had in mind for me5 from midnight Friday morning, February 16, 1979 through midnight Friday morning, the 23rd, my Lord was calling me to surrender all to Him; to die to self and sin for the first time in a major way on this unique occasion leading to what would eventually become in spirit “daily” as I matured in Him (Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:11, NKJV).6 Indeed, the smell of death radiated from my body and breath (Job 19:17).7
With the intent to read through it all, my Bible study starting from Genesis 1:1 was very instructive. Though I did not finish before the end of the fast, when I did so later in the year, it turns out the fast was the launch pad for the many times I would read through God’s Word over the forty years since. The Lord showed up in my times of reflection not only to illuminate what I had studied, but to acquaint me with His Person--He is love, joy, peace…and power! Oh, the power of God who displayed it in my body such that I never thirsted or hungered (Isaiah 55:1-3; Matthew 4:4); who also stirred me to look closer and see that each flake truly was different as the snow fell gently on my 10th floor window (Job 38:22-38; Mark 4:35-41). I was in awe, but He was not finished yet!
The Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth also brought me outside after the snow stopped the next day and commanded me to look directly into the sun. I hesitated because I had been taught never to do this due to the harm it would cause my eyes. But the Lord directed me to trust Him. So, I peered into the sun and the Lord said to me “Do you see the glory of the sun I created? My glory is greater” (Psalm 136:1-9; Isaiah 40:25-26; Acts 26:12-15)! No harm came to my eyes that day or since. Obeying His directions, I ended my fast with an amazingly good sip of water followed later that morning with juice and fruit. I did not eat a heavier meal until the second day after. Weak in body, but my soul on fire, I rejoiced mightily in church that Sunday and was later baptized!
During the week, the Lord had one more glorious experience for me. As I was driving along in D.C., I looked over to my right and saw a cemetery. Before I could focus good, all at once overflowing joy filled me followed immediately by uncontrollable tears as I understood in that instant the graveyard held no fear for me because in Christ, I overcome even death (Job 19:23-27; John 11:23-27)! I could hardly see through my tears as I drove on thanking and praising God for His great salvation and what was taking place in me as a result of the seven days with Him. The Lord gave the guidance and help I sought. He led me to withdraw from Howard and provided a part-time job at a grocery store so I could pay bills and save to move back home to Seaside, CA that May for what He had planned next. I gave away most of my worldly possessions and when May came, hit the road.
1 I am writing in the Holy Spirit’s illuminating spiritual hindsight about things I did not understand in those days. So, I now understand, for example, fasting in Scripture is
a spiritual discipline involving the subduing of the body in its natural desire for life sustaining food as an act of self-emptying humility before God. Many of the Bible’s
heavyweights fasted for this reason (Nehemiah 1:1-4; Luke 2:36-38) especially related to repentance (Daniel 9:1-19). The Lord Jesus fasted from food to God while
being tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1-2). The ancients also fasted in times of distress and grief such as when mourning those who died. This latter reason gives rise to
seven days being found in Scripture as one of the various number of days to fast (1 Samuel 31:11-13). Seven is a number God uses to signify completion (Genesis 2:
1-3). Fasting without food and drink is the ultimate self-emptying humility before and giving over of oneself to God which Moses did for forty days and nights on the
mountain and the Lord Jesus fully actualized on the cross (Deuteronomy 9:9; Luke 22:19, 41-42, 23:46).
2 Scripture references are added throughout this post I did not know back then as another beneficial aspect to me and the reader of the Holy Spirit’s illuminating spiritual
hindsight and confirmation of things taking place in my fast experiences.
3 This post is an elaboration on one part of my personal testimony found in fullest outline in the midst of a 5-part Journal article entitled, Releasing The Strong Man, be-
ginning in Part IV on the From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site.
4 My friends later told me I drove them crazy playing the 1978 Walter Hawkins, Love Alive II Album and especially the song, Be Grateful, over and over again (patched
and moved to a new shell, I still have and listen to it). They did not know that in that song in particular, the Lord was ministering His healing and deliverance from the
darkness of my despair with every tear I shed; hope in Him for better days ahead. Thank you, Jesus!
5 To learn more about other things the Lord was doing with me during my seven day fast read the October 2, 2016 post, Gifted With A Prophet’s Heart, and Pastors As
Developing Christian Men posted on December 17, 2017 both under the category, Call To Repent. See also Serving God From The Heart, posted April 23, 2017 un-
der the category, Glory To God!
6 Yes, I mean exactly as the great hymn, I Surrender All declares and Denise Williams soulfully delivers in her cover of it on her 1994 Greatest Gospel Hits Album. By
the way, among the many great songs on that same album, Ms. Williams also sings one of my standing songs of life devotion and service to the Lord, My Soul Desire.
7 Do not attempt to fast as I was commanded unless you are in fact commanded by the Lord who is able to and does supernaturally sustain the body deprived of its
necessary nourishment. The Lord never commanded me to fast without food and drink for seven days again, but once for three days and several times for one day.
All other extended fasts the Lord commanded me were without food only; the longest being forty days. There was no fast in drawing near to God that I did not have to
come face to face with, confess and repent from biblically defined sins (1 John 1:5-10).
Continuing to reflect on the importance of faithful Christians anchoring God’s Word in our hearts as the Lord led me to begin to instruct about in the two-part post beginning August 18, 2019, Lined Up Behind Jesus and followed up by last week’s, Loving The Word Of Truth, both under the category, Instruction, I am thoroughly sobered to consider how over the top foolish it truly is to neglect God’s Word at this late hour. Not only is the Word of truth instruction, comfort, hope and life among other things to us that study and practice it, but also through its many uniquely God provided prophecies of these and days still to come, it is light illuminating the times and future.1
At any hour it is foolish to neglect God’s Word! But it is to be especially lacking in discernment, intimate knowledge and the fear of God to do so now for whatever reasons. Indeed, the faithful Christian’s ability to spiritually develop, be fruitful, avoid being deceived or falling away in these latter days depends on knowing God and His Word! Peter, one of the eyewitness apostles of Christ, wrote to first century Christians in his second New Testament letter: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” He goes on to stress how important such knowledge is to God’s end that they (and we) share in “the divine nature,” (2 Peter 1:1-4, NKJV).
Furthermore, Peter’s instruction to “add to” what they were gaining for eternal benefit from the knowledge of God and Christ (to include more knowledge), leads to his sober warning about the consequences of failing to do this (2 Peter 1:5-11, NKJV). Already surrounded by devouring wolves of falsehood, Peter is reminding Christians then living in what he and other New Testament writers quoting the Old called “the last days” (Genesis 49:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3, NKJV) of “the present truth” (and us too, clearly in the latter of such days nearly 2,000 years later). As well, he wanted to leave them what would be a written reminder we by God’s grace have (2 Peter 1:12-15, NKJV).2
Peter adds his reminder of the present truth not composed of “cunningly devised fables,” but the eyewitness experience of he and other apostles with both Christ’s “majesty” and the Father’s glorious voice from Heaven to the already preserved “prophetic word” of God that fulfilled in what they had seen and heard, “confirmed” its accuracy. This being so, the apostle insists his readers “do well to heed” the prophetic Word “as a light that shines in a dark place” giving illuminating understanding of God’s will and workings concerning Christ to their unknowing hearts until all is fulfilled; knowing by faith how Bible prophecy has come about from God (2 Peter 1:16-21, NKJV).
Plainly from the foregoing taught by the apostle Peter, God wants Christians to have not only a grasp of the propositional truths of His Word, but at least a working general knowledge and understanding of Bible prophecy particularly as it relates to Christ (Luke 24:25-27, 44-48). God is going somewhere with His Word of truth and Christ is it! For this reason, church pastors that shun teaching or even discussing Bible prophecy as part of instructing God’s people are sinning against Him and hurting them.3 This is especially disastrous in these darkening latter days since the light of prophecy Peter speaks of shining in our hearts is a surpassingly great help to our persevering faith.
Truly, it is near impossible to avoid ever saying anything about prophecy since all propositional biblical truth coalesces with and is properly fulfilled in God’s prophetic Word!4 As with the historical and narrative forms of Scripture, God’s prophetic Word when encountered is to be objectively read, interpreted and understood as the One who gave it leads!5 Yes, men over the centuries have given a stunning array of interpretations to the many symbols and symbolic expressions of Bible prophecy.6 But the objective, straightforward approach led to the Jews, for example, expecting the coming of the Lord Jesus at a certain time from Daniel’s prophetic writings (Daniel 9:20-25). Also, their religious leaders even in unbelief spoke of where He would be born from Micah 5:2 (Matthew 2:1-6).
Moreover, the Lord Jesus certainly had Daniel’s prophecy in mind when He warned of events that would transpire after His departure and into a final end time period. As Daniel foretold and the Lord gave more specific details, launched by Caesar Nero and finished by Vespasian, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in A.D. 70. The Jewish people were scattered in the overflowing display of Roman military might. “The war” ultimately between God and Satan would continue and “wrath” follow the Jews wherever they went until the end (Daniel 9:26; Matthew 24:1-2, 6-7a; Luke 21:20-24, NKJV). Back in the land since 1948, God prepares Israel for the events of the final week of seventy prophetic weeks He gave Daniel by the angel, Gabriel, counting down to His end (Daniel 9:27).
It is at the midpoint of this final week kept from coming by God until He is ready that the Lord Jesus makes direct reference to Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 9:27. He warns any that understand the prophecy and live in Israel at the time the “abomination of desolation” in the Temple (this clearly asserts a Jewish Temple is to be built--Ezekiel 40-43:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8) is fulfilled to “flee” because “great tribulation” follows (Matthew 24:15-21, NKJV). Please note in this brief, but powerful example how the ancients and the Lord Jesus Himself not only took Bible prophecy seriously, but also objectively read and literally understood it. It is imperative that we do the same in these latter days so that we will walk in the light of knowledge and not the darkness of ignorance.7 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 Read the May 5, 2019 post, Out Of Step With The Times?, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
2 Not only does Peter know he’s going to die (no rapture for him), but how, because the Lord told him in advance (John 21:18-19). Interestingly, both Peter in the pas-
sage cited (vs. 13-14) and Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 describe their mortal bodies as a tent, that is, a temporary dwelling. Something that is temporary is not meant
to be permanent as Paul makes clear in 2 Corinthians 5:1 when he speaks of “our earthly house, this tent” being “destroyed,” but receiving “a building from God” which
is permanent by virtue of being “eternal” (NKJV). As different as a tent is in form and quality from a building, so, after the metamorphosis to immortality, our bodies
Paul also writes about in 1 Corinthians 15:49-53.
3 See the April 30, 2017 post, God, His Prophets and Word, under the category, Glory To God!
4 A perfect example of this is the declaration by Moses, “The Lord will judge His people,” (Deuteronomy 32:36a, NKJV). Not only had Israel been issued this truth pro-
positionally, but heard it repeatedly as warnings in prophecies and experienced it in fulfillment. For this reason, the apostles and other New Testament writers also
prophetically warn professed Christians the propositional truth God judges His people has not changed (1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 10:26-31; 1 Peter 4:17-18).
5 How could we not be humble enough to recognize that since “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” so, prophecy as part of it is best interpreted with the guid-
ance of Him who gave it as Peter would surely agree (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21, NKJV)?
6 The safest ground to stand on for interpreting prophetic symbols in the Bible is to use another of the sound principles of interpretation: Scripture interprets Scripture.
Typically, a symbol in the Bible is interpreted at first use or thereafter and used consistently throughout. Download the free document, Seven Principles Of Bible Inter-
pretation, in the Strong Man Store.
7 Every aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Christ is challenged in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics to operate in the knowl-
edge of God’s prophetic Word. Get a print copy or digital download of the book at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com
and Apple (digital only). You can also get a print copy of the book in the Strong Man Store.
Not only do faithful Christians seeking to obey Christ’s Great Commission face a steadily closing window of opportunity, hardening and cold hearts resisting the Gospel and our witness in these latter days as I have been writing about,1 but diminishing returns on the investment of time, energy and expense made in making disciples! Simplified, diminishing returns is an economic concept companies use to help them understand how costs increase and profit margins decrease over time producing their products. They can typically predict when they need to either make adjustments in their product, spending on it or consider the feasibility of abandoning it altogether.
Faithful Christians need to understand how our preaching of the Gospel and witness of Christ as a spiritual product is also subject to diminishing returns and be encouraged. In the first place, since our product is of divine origin in Word and Person, it has had and has staying power (Matthew 24:35, 28:18-20)! After nearly 2,000 years the Gospel still saves and the testimonies of the saved remain unimpeachable. So, there is nothing wrong with our product. No adjustments are necessary in the Gospel or our witness of its life changing results in Christ though, a number in these latter days have been foolishly and corruptly making them to build their own doomed made to order churches!2
Second, our Lord warned of such days as we live in where it would cost us more in time, energy and expense including blood to present the Gospel and witness Him making disciples (Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:11-13; Revelation 6:9-11). One reason for this is that the world is now, saturated with our product! There are relatively few major population centers left in the world where the Gospel has not been preached and a witness of Christ given.3 Spiritual apathy, increasing secularization and rising hostility greet bearers of the message in nations such as our own where Christianity as biblical or manmade religion with apostasy has been settled in for centuries.
Another reason is violent persecution brought upon believers in other nations as the Lord warned where once there was a toleration of Christianity, but now, due to a return to indigenous and national religions it is regarded as a threat to be destroyed. This mentality will reach its global zenith shortly under the auspices of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:15-25; Revelation 13:1-10). Consequently, nearly 2,000 years later our fishing nets are not as full as they once were as recently as the Billy Graham era just last century; diminishing increasingly until that “night” arrives and “no one can work,” (John 9:1-4, NKJV).4 Even so, all of this for us means the glorious Second Coming of our Lord with His eternal rest from and rewards for our Kingdom labor is closer still (Revelation 14:13, 22:12).5
1 Read the August 28, 2022 post, It Is Now Or The Peril Of Never, under the category, The Cause and Shaken, But Not Stirred, posted September 11, 2022, under the category, Biblical Worldview.
2 See the June 5, 2022 post, Made To Order Church?, under the category, Instruction.
3 Though these are minimal outcomes, they are important in the primary mission Christ has given His followers (Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1: 6-8). If after preaching the Gospel and witnessing Christ no disciples are made or churches planted in a locale (as is often the case in these latter days), we have done well since we are not accountable for the people’s response (Luke 10:1-12; Acts 2:36-47)! In the days of the Antichrist when his reign of evil globally ends the public preaching, witnessing, making, baptizing and teaching of disciples along with church planting by God's mortal saints, He will send an angel with only “the everlasting Gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth” a final time (Revelation 14:6-7, NKJV)!
4 This does not preclude spikes in the harvest of disciples made such as during the Holy Spirit sparked revival I joyfully await that ensues when He marks out the rem- nant of Israel as foretold in a second fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28-29; Revelation 7:1-8) before God’s severe trumpet warning judgments begin (Joel 2: 30-32; Revelation 8-9).
5 While as I write in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, the first motive of every aspiring strong man and great woman of God in serving our Lord’s Kingdom purposes is love for Him, His promised rest and rewards are excellent biblically taught motivators also (2 Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 4:1-13, 12:1-2)! The book is available with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, at your fa- vorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore.
There is an end God has had planned before there was ever a beginning and shepherds bringing to fulfillment. That I should be alive to be as close as we are now, in the world to the day of the Lord and end of this present age abundantly foretold in Bible prophecy is exceedingly awe inspiring to me! Any of us who are faithful Christians have only one legitimate cause for sorrow about this and that is the reality not everyone we love or know will come to God’s end saved in spite of our best efforts (Jude 20-23). Truly, God’s holy wrath approaches as the destructive dawn of His eternal day and punishment of all unsaved sinners for their wicked deeds (Zephaniah 1:1-3, 14-18)!
From creation God in sovereignty has been shepherding events toward His predetermined end bound up in His Kingdom and Son, Jesus Christ, as noted in last week’s post and proclaimed by His apostles after His first century appearance (Daniel 2:44; Acts 2:22-36, 3:17-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:3-23; 1 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:1-8).1 As in every generation following those days described as “the last,” ours are still an outworking of God’s plan toward His end in Christ (Acts 2:1-21; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John 2:18, NKJV).2 These are the last days for a number of reasons one of which is God has allocated none after to offer His gracious salvation to mankind (Titus 2:11-15).3
Bible prophecy speaks of the “latter days” or “times” which as the phrase conveys are the last part of the last days when God begins to fulfill the most severe foretold events in His prophetic plan especially His warning judgments before bringing His wrath and end to this present mortal age as we have known it (Jeremiah 30:23-24; Daniel 10:14; 1 Timothy 4:1, NKJV). Now, many professed Christians that love this present age do not want for their selfish motives to see it end. But end it must since all that has taken place after Adam’s fall during it is a wicked deviation from God’s perfect will for His creatures to be eternally together with Him as Creator (Genesis 1:26-31, 2:7-3:11, 22-24).
Foreknowing man’s fall into sin and His just consequence of separation by death from Him, love moved God to make a way before our creation to save the willing. That foretold way was the incarnation of the Word and His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die in our place to make atonement for our sins so God would be righteously free to forgive them and enable us to be reconciled to Him (Isaiah 53; John 1:1-18, 3:16-21, 36; Romans 5:6-11). The completely unselfish death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ heralded in the Gospel restored God’s original plan of eternal life and immortality for all mankind that would believe (1 Corinthians 15:45-57; 2 Timothy 1:8-12).4
The Lord Jesus waits for the end and awesome day of the Lord in Heaven with all of the saints departed to Him as we do here on earth. Among the many moving parts of His predetermined end only the Almighty God could perfectly weave together and bring about, are the foretold specific plans for His chosen Man and nation, Israel. The formal reappearance of the nation on the world stage in 1948 after nearly 1,900 years of dispersion throughout the world was the clear launch of God’s latter days since Israel is the central reason prophesied events of the end unfold as they do (Isaiah 49:1-3, 66:5-13; Zechariah 1:12-2:13; Romans 11:25-29)! To know where we are in God’s plan watch Israel!
Indeed, not only are we to watch Israel prophetically for what God is doing now and up until the very time of the end, but what He has done with them in the past “as examples” for us Christians the apostle Paul warns “upon whom the ends of the ages have come,” (1 Corinthians 10:1-11, NKJV). Thus, besides not sinning against God to avoid punishment, we are not “to put far off the day of doom” as part of God’s predetermined end pretending it may yet be thousands of years into the future as many of them did (Ezekiel 12:21-28; Amos 6:3-7, NKJV).5 Too, unlike them who did not believe their prophets we are to believe the prophecies God has given in His whole Word about these latter days we now, live through and the end (Jeremiah 19:14-20:6, 40:2-3; Luke 21:5-24, 24:13-27, 44)!6
Regarding the end, it comes with the outpouring of God’s promised wrath upon sinners who right up until that very moment refuse to accept His offer of forgiveness through repentance and faith in the Gospel. All of the plagues of climate change controlled by God including scorching heat come upon them (Revelation 14:6-7, 16:1-11). After this they even conspire to impossibly war against Him (Psalm 2:1-3; Joel 3:1-14; Revelation 16:12-16)! Having given His fallen creatures every chance to repent to no avail, God pours out His full wrath upon them and the earth (Psalm 2:4-12; Isaiah 13:6-13, 24:1-13, 17-23; Joel 3:15-17; Revelation 6:12-17, 16:17-21, 19:11-16). Only a mortal remnant from among the Jews and Gentile nations survive the end (Isaiah 10:20-23, 24:14-16; Ezekiel 7).
1 Read the July 23, 2023 post, The Nations Do Not Impress God, under the category, Call To Repent, and see the eighth footnote.
2 If Christ’s coming as the Judge was “at the door” in the first century, when do you really think it is now, nearly two thousand years removed (James 5:7-9, NKJV)?
3 Read the February 6, 2022 post, The Divine Delay, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
4 Through Christ, resurrection from the dead to immorality will also become the experience of all the wicked when He does this as a prelude to their final judgment and “condemnation” to Hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15, NKJV)! But as the apostle Paul makes clear, God has established an “order” of the resurrections (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NKJV).
5 Many professed Christians today, not only nonchalantly kick the day of doom can down the far off in the future road, they do not want to hear about it; some even being “scoffers” with unbelievers so anchored are they into this present world and age (2 Peter 3:1-9, NKJV)! This is a grave error especially in light of the Lord’s specific command to His followers to “watch,” (Matthew 24:36-44, NKJV). All such professed Christians should watch the Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, on our YouTube Channel to hear His appeal.
6 The world has its definition of “woke,” but aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Christ are joyfully “awake” to the nearness of “our salvation” because of believing and doing God’s Word (Romans 13:8-14, NKJV)! To learn more, get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics in the Hard or Soft Cover or E-Book Editions along with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
In the aftermath of my August 26, 2018 repost, Worldly Peer Pressure, under the category, Call To Repent, I write with the leading of the Lord to offer some instructional guidance to especially my younger Christian brothers either hearing from Him about planting a new local church or that are already in the process in these latter days. The things I wrote in that post are not a matter of an old school preacher coming against the innovations of a new school of doing church. There is a place for that conversation, but not where it concerns the immutable God, His message to the world in the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ, the transcendent truths, commands and instruction of His Word!
Indeed, the living God speaks to 6th century BC Judah on the cusp of judgment and commanded: ‘“Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls,’“ (Jeremiah 6:16a, NKJV). Through the corruptions of her kings, priests and false prophets Judah had been walking down a road that in many ways had been portrayed as new school and beneficial. They were introduced to all manner of idolatry and pagan practices brought even into God’s house in disobedience to the old school Ten Commandments in their covenant relationship with Him (Exodus 20:1-17; Jeremiah 22:24-30, 23:9-15; Ezekiel 8).
God obviously does not share the view that old school as it concerns Himself, His will, way and written Word is something that can be regarded with respect as working for “back then,” but which has no continuing place and should in fact give way to a new school. He is the never changing God and His Son “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8, NKJV). Perfection needs no change! Thus, God commands Judah standing at the crossroads to see His good way in the old paths of holiness, righteousness, faithfulness and obedience to His Word in order to walk in it and avert disaster. But they defiantly refused to obey or hear (Jeremiah 6:16b-17).
Devastating, nation destroying judgment fell upon Judah in which they never fully recovered though, a remnant as foretold came back from captivity after seventy years. Their descendants some 500 years later experienced the first coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, but rejected and put Him to death on the cross. He was buried, but after three days rose again and commanded that God’s message of sin forgiveness through repentance and faith in Him should be proclaimed to the ends of the earth! He then ascended and beginning with His apostles has labored with those who became disciples in every generation since to make and teach other disciples until He returns.
Nearly 2,000 years later, the return of Jesus Christ is drawing near as is clearly being understood by those of His disciples watching the prophetic signs He and His apostles left us. His disciples today are expected to remain faithful to His now ancient, old school message and commanded assignment in proclaiming it that includes reaching men as a priority1 though He gives leadership to employ new school means such as communication technology to do so. Or don’t you know when God created radio waves, He intended for them to be used for His causes first and foremost? Still, as new means to communicate are discovered, God’s message in the cross preached remains His primary method for saving sinners (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)!
As 21st century church planters go forth to proclaim the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ to make disciples and establish new churches, teaching His Word as commanded by Him and through His apostles, there should be no old versus new school debate on these. Nor should any new school involve building on personalities, personal views or worldly light flash and bang of music irreverently labeled “worship.” It is as the Lord led me to write in a recent Facebook post: “If a church cannot be built and hold together on the foundation of Christ, the preached Gospel about Him and the Word of God as it is written, then, no attempt should be made to build it!”2 A supposed Christian church built on any other foundation is not His and will be destroyed (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)!
And since these latter days are increasingly as the early days of the Church in terms of worldly hostility and persecution, let the church planters understand God’s house is wherever any number of believers assemble together.3 “Come as you are” should surely apply to unbelievers who visit, but never baptized believers who are all supposed to be taught the holy God they draw near to worship has set them apart as holy to Himself (Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 2:10-12). Clothing that is overly revealing, sexually provocative, profane, purposely dirty and even new school raggedy in mockery of those who truly have no better clothes is offensive to our God who loves the poor (Proverbs 17:5). In exemplary holiness of body, clothes and heart we worship (Exodus 19:9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
Concerning generational style preferences in music, worshipping God in “spirit and truth” is not a license to disrespect and offend His holiness (Leviticus 9:22-10:3; John 4:19-26; Acts 4:32-5:11; Revelation 4:2-11, NKJV).4 While the church planting target audience and turn out should hold a little weight, respect for elders (who love the youth, right?) upheld by God and His holiness ought to always be the final, decisive factors (Leviticus 19:32; 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 11:17-34). Nevertheless, those born into this time of worldly political correctness and tolerance must realize everything of the world cannot be baptized “Christian” and brought into God’s house--remember ancient Judah! The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 God’s priority of reaching men as His chosen leaders in the home, churches and larger society (if it were still accepted) is the spiritual impetus behind our cause to
restore men at Strong Man Ministries and in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It is available at all major internet booksellers, by order at your fa-
vorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
2 See the August 30, 2018 on the Strong Of God Facebook Resource Page.
3 As has been the increasing norm in non-western nations, homes and other “underground” settings for the assembling of Christians will become so here in America
and the West too as foretold hostility and persecution intensifies (Matthew 10:16-23). Truly, the days of the stadium sized “mega” and building centered churches
are coming to an end (Revelation 17:16-18:8)!
4 This disrespect and offending of the holiness of God most assuredly includes any kind of willful disobedience to Him, but in these latter days, that which is also de-
ceitfully involved in men covering their heads before Christ, their Head during and women leading worship at all (even with their husband’s permission--Jeremiah
44:15-30) when the whole church is assembled (1 Corinthians 11:3-4, 14:20-40). Read my January 2015 Blog Series, Worshipping God Without God, under the
category, Call To Repent.
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